Peter DeFazio (D-OR) Co Chair

Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1986. He is the dean of the Oregon House delegation, represents southwest Oregon, long known as the birthplace of the modern microbrew movement. Oregon small breweries have about 11 percent of the market share in Oregon, which is the highest of any state. Furthermore, about 38 percent of the beer made in Oregon is consumed within the state, which has four of the top 50 microbreweries in the country: Deschutes, Full Sail, Rogue and McMenamins.

DeFazio is a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where he serves as Ranking Members of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, and also serves on the Aviation and Railroad Subcommittees. He also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, where he sits on the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee and the Water and Power Subcommittee.

DeFazio is not only a beer drinker, but also an avid home brewer as well brewing IPA's in the summer and English ales in the winter.